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One person was killed and 32 people were injured, including two critically, when a tour bus and a sport utility vehicle collided on a Los Angeles area freeway early Sunday, officials said. The lone occupant of the SUV died after the vehicle became engulfed in flames following the crash just after 5 a.m. in the Hacienda Heights area, about 20 miles (32 km) east of downtown LA, the California Highway Patrol said in a news release. CHP Officer Zachary Salazar said 32 people were taken to hospitals, including the two in critical condition. He said the remaining people transported had injuries ranging from moderate to minor. The preliminary investigation suggests that the SUV became disabled for unknown reasons in a lane and the tour bus then collided with the rear of the SUV, the CHP said. After the impact, the bus veered to the right across all lanes and collided with the guardrail along the shoulder, the news release said. There was significant damage to the front of the bus, including a shattered windshield. The LA County Fire Department said the fire did not spread to the bus. Salazar said 63 people were aboard the bus, including the driver. He said 31 people were able to leave the scene in a separate bus. The bus was headed from a casino outside of Los Angeles to the Koreatown neighborhood of the city, officials said. (AP)

A man of faith, Rabbi Pinchas z”l was niftar suddenly after the Seder, leaving behind a young widow and seven orphans—the youngest only a few months old, the oldest around 11. Despite a life full of yissurim, including severe asthma, sudden sleep episodes, and the tragic loss of their firstborn to crib death, he never complained and always said, “It’s all for the best.” He was deeply devoted to his children’s chinuch and lived a life of emunah and ahavas Torah, always seeking guidance from his Rav. His last Seder was full of simcha, and he passed away that very night. The family lives in a cramped two-bedroom apartment, and five of the children require special education. The widow, just 30, has no stable income and now faces the burden of raising the children alone. The 11-year-old son has taken on responsibility at home but is still only a child in need of support himself. The public is urged to come to the aid of this devastated family in their most difficult hour. to donate click here >>>

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A Peaceful Home authored forty years ago by the Ponevez Yeshiva Masgiach Rabbi Chayim Friedlander ZT”L as a guide primarily for young men approaching marriage, coaching them in their new responsibilities and obligations to their wives enabling them to build their home in the way of Torah.  The essay educates the new husband in what his role is, his obligations to his wife, understanding her nature and her aspirations and supporting her materially and emotionally. It is crafted in five chapters of concise lessons each dealing with a different aspect of married life.    

Sefer Shemirat HaLashon was published by the Chafetz Chayim about one hundred fifty years ago as a sefer of mussar, the Torah’s imperative to speak properly and the tragedy of improper speech.  It is built on three Gateways-Shaarim: Shaar HaZechirah details the utterly destructive power of Lashon Hara and Rechilut prolonging our Exile both on a personal level and on a national level.  Shaar HaTeshuvah is a lesson in loving our fellow Jews, being patient and trusting in Hashem.  Shaar HaTorah is an insight into the importance of learning Torah.  The sefer concludes with an extensive epilogue on “guarded speech,” and a postscript on praying and on the consequences on informing on a fellow Jew to governmental authorities.  

Sefer Shem Olam was published by the Chafetz Chayim about one hundred thirty years ago as a strategy for forlorn childless people to preserve forever a record of their life’s work – their name – in this world and in the world to come.  The Chafetz Chayim builds on this theme in the Gateway to Guarding Shabbat, the Gateway to Hashem’s Desire for doing Chessed, and Gateway to Strengthening Torah.  We’ve added Kuntres Nefutzot Yisrael to this publication describing the basic reasons that brought our Jewish brothers to disperse to distant countries.

Sefer Ahavat Chessed – the laws of chessed with the Chafetz Chayim’s commentary Netiv HaChessed – was published by the Chafetz Chayim about on hundred thirty seven years ago in three parts.  Part one contains the laws supporting impoverished Jews by extending them loans, and the laws of paying wages timely.  Part two is the mussar of loving our Jewish brothers, the reward for extending Chessed  and the ruination of whoever holds back from giving Tzedakah or doing kindness.   Part three deals with being proactive to get involved in life’s opportunities: taking in guests, visiting the sick, extending kindness to the dead and to their mourners, making a bride and groom happy and pulling a fellow Jew out of his sorrows. 

TO PLACE YOUR ORDER, PLEASE VISIT: ChafetzChayim.org

A top-ranking Hamas representative told Al Jazeera that the group is deeply engaged in high-level direct discussions with U.S. officials aimed at achieving a ceasefire and allowing consistent humanitarian aid to flow into Gaza.

Reuters released a similar report, noting that negotiations between the United States and the terrorist group are underway. According to that account, the dialogue has centered on two critical objectives: securing a truce and establishing a reliable mechanism to deliver substantial humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip.

This isn’t the first occasion on which the Trump administration has directly communicated with Hamas. Earlier in the year, Adam Boehler, Trump’s envoy for hostage affairs, conducted talks with Hamas representatives in an effort to secure the release of American hostages held by the group.

Meanwhile, the Saudi-based outlet Asharq Al-Awsat reported that multiple Arab nations have urged President Trump to put forth a peace proposal during his upcoming visit to the Middle East. The plan being discussed would involve an immediate halt to the conflict, the return of all hostages in a single phase, and a full Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza. In return, Hamas would surrender its weapons, a local governing body would be established in the enclave, and large-scale reconstruction efforts would be launched.

{Matzav.com}

President Trump releases statement on the hopeful release of Edan Alexander.

All six US B-2 stealth bombers have left Diego Garcia Airbase in the Indian Ocean and returned to the US, indicating a US military strike on Iran is now highly unlikely.

President Donald announces he will sign an Executive Order that will reduce Prescription Drug and Pharmaceutical prices.

Israel’s High Court of Justice ruled on Sunday that a baby girl born following an IVF mix-up at Assuta Medical Center in Rishon Letzion will remain with the non-biological couple who raised her, rather than being transferred to her genetic parents.

The case stems from a devastating mistake during the IVF process, where embryos were accidentally switched, resulting in the birth of a child to a couple unrelated to her biologically.

The decision was delivered by a panel of five justices: Yael Willner, Daphne Barak-Erez, Ofer Grosskopf, Alex Stein, and Yechiel Meir Kasher.

Justice Willner, who authored the majority opinion, was supported by Justices Grosskopf and Kasher. Justice Stein also agreed to reject the appeal but added that the genetic father’s name should be officially recognized on the birth record, without granting him parental rights. Justice Barak-Erez dissented, arguing the baby should have been placed with her biological parents.

Calling the case “particularly painful,” Willner said it touches on the deeply personal matter of one’s role as a parent and the emotional connection between a child and those raising them.

The baby, Sophia, was born on October 26, 2022, through IVF treatment at Assuta. During the pregnancy’s 28th week, doctors discovered a cardiac issue, prompting genetic tests that revealed the fetus was not biologically related to the pregnant mother.

More comprehensive testing completed on September 27, 2023, identified the child’s true biological parents, who then petitioned the court to be recognized as her legal guardians.

Initially, a family court ruled in favor of transferring custody to the genetic parents. That decision was appealed by the couple raising Sophia, and a district court reversed the ruling, determining that the couple who gave birth to and cared for her should retain legal custody.

While the district court maintained custody with the adoptive parents, it also ordered that the biological parents should have some level of involvement in the child’s life. The biological parents subsequently escalated the case to the High Court.

In her ruling, Willner stated that under current legal standards, the woman who gives birth is considered the legal mother, and absent more specific legislation, those rules should be applied here. She urged lawmakers to pass clearer laws to address such cases in the future.

Justice Grosskopf characterized the ruling as “tragic,” adding that the guiding principle had to be the child’s best interests. Willner concurred, emphasizing that the maternal connection between Sophia and the woman who raised her began before birth and was never interrupted.

She also pointed out that Sophia has been living with her adoptive parents since birth and that maintaining this existing relationship is what’s most beneficial for her well-being.

Justice Barak-Erez, who dissented, argued that the biological parents’ original intention in pursuing IVF—to have a genetically related child—should not be overlooked, nor should the challenges faced by the mother throughout the process.

She further criticized the application of adoption laws in this case, explaining that adoption typically involves mutual consent, which was clearly absent here. She also noted that the biological parents never had a chance to form a bond with Sophia, making it impossible to determine if they would provide better care.

{Matzav.com Israel}

The Trump administration must halt much of its dramatic downsizing of the federal workforce, a California judge ordered Friday. Judge Susan Illston in San Francisco issued the emergency order in a lawsuit filed last week by labor unions and cities, one of multiple legal challenges to Republican President Donald Trump’s efforts to shrink the size of a federal government he calls bloated and expensive. “The Court holds the President likely must request Congressional cooperation to order the changes he seeks, and thus issues a temporary restraining order to pause large-scale reductions in force in the meantime,” Illston wrote in her order. The temporary restraining order directs numerous federal agencies to halt acting on the president’s workforce executive order signed in February and a subsequent memo issued by the Department of Government Efficiency and the Office of Personnel Management. The order, which expires in 14 days, does not require departments to rehire people. Plaintiffs asked that the effective date of any agency action be postponed and that departments stop implementing or enforcing the executive order, including taking any further action. They limited their request to departments where dismantlement is already underway or poised to be underway, including at the the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which announced in March it will lay off 10,000 workers and centralize divisions. Illston, who was nominated to the bench by former President Bill Clinton, a Democrat, said at a hearing Friday the president has authority to seek changes in the executive branch departments and agencies created by Congress. “But he must do so in lawful ways,” she said. “He must do so with the cooperation of Congress, the Constitution is structured that way.” Trump has repeatedly said voters gave him a mandate to remake the federal government, and he tapped billionaire Elon Musk to lead the charge through DOGE. Tens of thousands of federal workers have been fired, left their jobs via deferred resignation programs or have been placed on leave as a result of Trump’s government-shrinking efforts. There is no official figure for the job cuts, but at least 75,000 federal employees took deferred resignation, and thousands of probationary workers have already been let go. In her order, Illston gave several examples to show the impact of the downsizing. One union that represents federal workers who research health hazards faced by mineworkers said it was poised to lose 221 of 222 workers in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, office; a Vermont farmer didn’t receive a timely inspection on his property to receive disaster aid after flooding and missed an important planting window; a reduction in Social Security Administration workers has led to longer wait times for recipients. All the agencies impacted were created by Congress, she noted. Lawyers for the government argued Friday that the executive order and memo calling for large-scale personnel reductions and reorganization plans provided only general principles that agencies should follow in exercising their own decision-making process. “It expressly invites comments and proposals for legislative engagement as part of policies that those agencies wish to implement,” Eric Hamilton, a deputy assistant attorney general, said of the memo. “It is setting out guidance.” But Danielle Leonard, an attorney for plaintiffs, said it was clear that the president, DOGE and OPM were making decisions outside of their authority and not inviting dialogue […]

US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff recently expressed sharp disagreement with Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza during a meeting with the families of hostages, according to a Channel 12 report. Witkoff reportedly stated that in his view, brokering a new ceasefire deal that includes the release of hostages is the most viable next step.

Per the report, Witkoff told the hostage families that the American objective is clear: “We want to return the hostages, but Israel is not ready to end the war.”

Sources who were present at the meeting quoted Witkoff as saying, “Israel is prolonging the war, even though we do not see where further progress can be made.”

Witkoff reportedly added, “Still, there is currently a window of opportunity that we hope Israel and all the mediators will take advantage of. We are putting pressure on all the mediators and doing everything to return the hostages.”

Family members reportedly told Channel 12 that this level of public criticism from Witkoff regarding Israel’s handling of the war is unprecedented and a notable shift in tone.

Unnamed senior Israeli officials, meanwhile, told the network that “If there are no agreements by the end of [President Donald] Trump’s visit to the Middle East, Israel will launch a ground operation and it will take several weeks until the next ‘exit point’. We won’t agree to quickly halt, once we have begun the intensified operation. Hamas will not determine the timeline.”

Although critical, the officials echoed part of Witkoff’s sentiment by acknowledging that “a window of opportunity” exists. They stressed that it’s incumbent upon the mediators to communicate this to Hamas as clearly as possible.

According to the Channel 12 report, Israel is entertaining a number of potential arrangements — one variation being dubbed internally as a “Witkoff proposal-minus.” Nonetheless, officials emphasized that if Hamas continues to resist compromise, an escalated offensive will be the only viable course, with no short-term end in sight. Under the plan attributed to Witkoff, approximately half of the remaining hostages would be freed in exchange for a prolonged ceasefire.

Currently, Witkoff is said to be actively engaging with influential players in the region, aiming to lock in a workable deal within the coming days.

Walla news adds that Witkoff is presently in communication with Hamas, Qatar, Egypt, and Israel, focusing on reaching a hostage agreement and laying the groundwork for lasting stability.

{Matzav.com}

A senior Hamas official stated that they were urged to offer a “gift” to President Trump, the anticipated release of Israeli-American hostage Idan Alexander tomorrow. In return, they were told, “Trump will give back an even greater one.”

President Donald Trump has hinted at a significant upcoming announcement, coinciding with progress in U.S.–China trade negotiations that could reshape the economic relationship between the two nations.

“My next TRUTH will be one of the most important and impactful I have ever issued. ENJOY!” Trump wrote in a post, building anticipation for what may be a major political or economic reveal.

In a previous message, Trump pointed to the effectiveness of his trade policies, particularly the implementation of tariffs, which he says played a key role in pushing Beijing to the negotiating table. “IN JUST THREE MONTHS, TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS (and therefore, record numbers of JOBS!) HAVE BEEN POURING INTO THE USA. THIS IS BECAUSE OF MY TARIFF POLICY, and our great November 5th Election WIN!” he stated.

Trump also lashed out at critics in a separate message, mocking Democrats for their reaction to the current economic momentum. “The very STUPID Democrats are doing everything within their power to disparage what is happening. They are totally unhinged, and have lost all levels of Confidence. It is a financial REVOLUTION, and they are being Crushed. MAGA!!!”

Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed on Sunday that negotiations in Geneva had made “substantial progress,” though he declined to elaborate on the specifics of any deal. He said a formal announcement would follow on Monday and emphasized that Trump had been briefed on the outcome of the discussions.

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, who was present at the summit along with Bessent, Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, and two vice ministers from China, characterized the developments as a meaningful breakthrough. “A deal we struck with our Chinese partners” will help curb the United States’ $1.2 trillion trade deficit in goods, he explained.

Greer added that the pace and tone of the discussions were encouraging. “And this was, as the secretary pointed out, a very constructive two days. It’s important to understand how quickly we were able to come to agreement, which reflects that perhaps the differences were not so large as maybe thought,” he said. He also described the Chinese delegation as “tough negotiators.”

This marked the first in-person encounter between Bessent, Greer, and He since the imposition of steep reciprocal tariffs—each country having levied duties exceeding 100% on a wide range of imports.

Although Bessent has previously indicated that the trade war had driven tariffs too high and that a reduction was needed to ease tensions, he stopped short of confirming any specific rollback measures and did not take questions following his remarks.

White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett also weighed in, noting Beijing’s strong desire to recalibrate its trading partnership with Washington. According to Hassett, who appeared on Fox News, additional trade agreements with other nations may be announced as early as this week.

Trump offered an optimistic assessment of the diplomatic exchange, suggesting that both parties had achieved a “fresh start” through cooperative dialogue.

“A very good meeting today with China, in Switzerland. Many things discussed, much agreed to,” he wrote on Truth Social, summarizing the outcome in positive terms and hinting that more updates may be on the horizon.

{Matzav.com}

Qatar and Egypt reportedly view Hamas’ agreement to release Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander as a positive step toward restarting Gaza ceasefire negotiations.

The lead U.S. negotiator in trade talks with China cheered “a great deal of productivity” in resolving differences between the world’s two leading economic powers, after officials wrapped two days of bargaining in Switzerland following President Donald Trump imposing steep tariffs and Beijing retaliating. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Sunday that there was “substantial progress” in the weekend sessions but offered scant information on exactly what negotiations entailed. He said more details would come at a briefing Monday. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer suggested that an agreement had been reached but provided no details. He and Bessent briefly addressed reporters once talks had wrapped at the stately villa that serves as the residence of the Swiss ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, but did not take questions. “It’s important to understand how quickly we were able to come to agreement, which reflects that perhaps the differences were not so large as far as maybe thought,” Greer said. But he also stressed that a top Trump priority means closing the U.S. trade deficit with China, which came to a record $263 billion last year. “We’re confident that the deal we struck with our Chinese partners will help us to resolve, work towards resolving that national emergency,” Greer said. The White House subsequently issued a statement titled, “U.S. Announces China Trade Deal in Geneva” but offering only the same quotes by Bessent and Greer. The Chinese delegation held a subsequent news conference where it described what occurred as “candid, in-depth and constructive dialogue.” Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng said both sides had agreed to “establishing a consultation mechanism” for further discussions on trade and economic issues. China’s negotiators also said that they and the U.S. team would be releasing a joint statement on Monday — though the timing was still uncertain. “I think, no matter when this statement is released, it’s going to be good news for the world,” said Li Chenggang, the Chinese ambassador to the World Trade Organization. Trump was anxious to declare the sessions a win. Even before the final day of talks opened on Sunday, the president posed on his social media site that “GREAT PROGRESS” was being made toward what he suggested could be a “total reset” on the tariffs that have put the global economy on edge. Beijing, however, appered largely more measured about the negotiations’ overall direction, noting in a Saturday night editorial published its state-run news agency published before the second day of negotiations kicked off, that it would “firmly reject any proposal that compromises core principles or undermines the broader cause of global equity.” During the Sunday evening news conference, the Chinese delegation said “global trade wars that were provoked or initiated by the U.S. have captured global attention“ but “China’s position has been clear and consistent: China does not want to fight a trade war. We are ready to work together.” Negotiations could go along way toward stabilizing world markets roiled by the U.S.-China standoff that has ships in port with goods from China unwilling to unload until they get final word on tariffs. Trump last month raised U.S. tariffs on China to a combined 145%, and China retaliated by hitting American imports with a 125% levy. Tariffs that high essentially amount to the countries’ boycotting each other’s products, disrupting […]

Filming has begun for the fifth season of the hit Israeli series Fauda, and the production has sparked backlash after revealing that upcoming episodes will include scenes inspired by the brutal October 7 Hamas assault near the Gaza border.

According to reports, some of the new season’s scenes will be shot in the very communities that were attacked during the massacre, which left approximately 1,200 people dead and around 250 taken hostage by Hamas terrorists.

Residents of the Eshkol Regional Council — one of the regions that suffered severe losses in the attack — were informed in advance that production would include reenactments of violent events. A message circulated to locals indicated that the filming would involve “simulated security incidents,” with actors dressed as soldiers, police officers, and even terrorists, along with vehicles and sound effects including gunfire.

Despite the heads-up, several residents voiced strong opposition to the project, arguing that the filming is an insensitive intrusion into an area still healing from immense trauma.

“This shows a total lack of sensitivity and consideration for citizens here who are still living with the trauma,” said one resident, who asked not to be named. “It could trigger flashbacks and other emotional distress. As someone who lives here and works with victims of the war, it’s disappointing, harmful and dangerous. It seems that publicity is now valued more than our lives.”

Another local, a father, said he appreciated the advance warning but remained concerned about the effect it would have on his child. “It’s good they told us ahead of time, but what about my son who is terrified of gunfire? Why not film somewhere else and recreate the setting? I’m not sure we can cope with this.”

A woman who recently moved back to the area also expressed her frustration, saying, “Our lives aren’t a TV show — this is our reality. They should find a different location for their series.”

In response to the backlash, the Eshkol Regional Council tried to ease tensions by explaining that the scenes involving shooting and combat would be filmed in less populated areas and designed to cause as little disturbance as possible.

The production team behind Fauda issued a statement emphasizing that they announced the filming ahead of time to prevent confusion or distress and to show respect for the affected communities.

“We are announcing this in advance out of respect for public sentiment — so people understand this is a filming operation and not a real security event,” the statement said. “This is our way of telling their story to the world.”

{Matzav.com}

Muhammad al-Hindi, who serves as the deputy chief of the Islamic Jihad terror group, declared that the Hamas-led factions will not hand over Israeli hostages while military operations by Israel are ongoing. He referred to these actions as “aggression.”

Al-Hindi stated that Hamas ideally seeks a broad and all-encompassing agreement that would involve a full prisoner-for-hostage exchange, though he indicated they may also consider a phased solution if necessary.

He rejected outright the Israeli demand for disarmament of the terror groups, asserting that such a move would be equivalent to beginning the forced removal of Palestinians. “This will not happen,” he said emphatically.

Al-Hindi further claimed that Israel is burdening Egyptian and Qatari mediators with unrealistic terms in order to keep fighting while trying to recover its hostages. He dismissed the possibility of such an outcome, saying again, “This will not happen.”

He also dismissed comments made by Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu about wiping out Hamas and defeating the resistance, saying those remarks are completely detached from reality.

{Matzav.com Israel}

For many experts, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ’s promise for “pulling back the curtain” to find autism’s causes in a few months is jarring — and unrealistic. That’s because it appears to ignore decades of science linking about 200 genes that play a role — and the quest to understand differences inside the brain that can be present at birth. “Virtually all the evidence in the field suggests whatever the causes of autism — and there’s going to be multiple causes, it’s not going to be a single cause — they all affect how the fetal brain develops,” said longtime autism researcher David Amaral of the UC Davis MIND Institute. “Even though we may not see the behaviors associated with autism until a child is 2 or 3 years old, the biological changes have already taken place,” he said. Kennedy on Wednesday announced the National Institutes of Health would create a new database “to uncover the root causes of autism and other chronic diseases” by merging Medicaid and Medicare insurance claims with electronic medical records and other data. He has cited rising autism rates as evidence of an epidemic of a “preventable disease” caused by some sort of environmental exposure and has promised “some of the answers by September.” What is autism? Autism isn’t considered a disease. It’s a complex brain disorder better known as autism spectrum disorder, to reflect that it affects different people in different ways. Symptoms vary widely. For some people, profound autism means being nonverbal and having significant intellectual disabilities. Others have far milder effects, such as difficulty with social and emotional skills. Autism rates are rising — not among profound cases but milder ones, said autism expert Helen Tager-Flusberg of Boston University. That’s because doctors gradually learned that milder symptoms were part of autism’s spectrum, leading to changes in the late 1990s and early 2000s in diagnosis guidelines and qualifications for educational services, she said. What’s the state of autism research? The link between genes and autism dates back to studies of twins decades ago. Some are rare genetic variants passed from parent to child, even if the parent shows no signs of autism. But that’s not the only kind. As the brain develops, rapidly dividing cells make mistakes that can lead to mutations in only one type of cell or one part of the brain, Amaral explained. Noninvasive testing can spot differences in brain activity patterns in babies who won’t be diagnosed with autism until far later, when symptoms become apparent, he said. Those kinds of changes stem from alterations in brain structure or its neural circuitry — and understanding them requires studying brain tissue that’s available only after death, said Amaral, who’s the scientific director of a brain banking collaborative called Autism BrainNet. The bank, funded by the nonprofit Simons Foundation, has collected more than 400 donated brains, about half from people with autism and the rest for comparison. What about environmental effects? Researchers have identified other factors that can interact with genetic vulnerability to increase the risk of autism. They include the age of a child’s father, whether the mother had certain health problems during pregnancy including diabetes, use of certain medications during pregnancy, and preterm birth. Any concern that measles vaccinations could be linked to autism has been long debunked, stressed Tager-Flusberg, who leads a new Coalition of Autism Scientists pushing […]

[COMMUNICATED]DEADLINE TO SUBMIT KVITTEL

SPLITTING THE SEA  TOGETHER

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This year, in the forty days leading up to the yahrtzeit of the holy Tanna Rav Yonasan ben Uziel, (starting May 13) when thousands of people converge at his kever in Amukah to daven for shidduchim and other yeshuos, Ohel Sarala representatives will daven and submit the kvittels at the four largest places of Tefillah in Eretz Yisroel, the Meoras Hamachpela, Kever Rachel, Meron and Amukah.

These days of tefillah will culminate in a heartfelt Yom Tefillah on the Yahrtzeit of Harav Yonasan ben Uziel at these places together with thousands around the globe.

You can submit a kvittel to be placed every day in addition to finishing sefer tehillim .

CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT

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Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu pushed back on speculation of a divide between Israel and the Trump administration during a closed-door meeting of the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Tuesday.

“There are no differences between us and the Americans. (Minister Ron) Dermer goes there every few days,” Netanyahu asserted.

He went on to say that claims of a rift over policies on Iran and the Houthis were being driven by media interests. “All the talk of gaps between us and the Americans regarding Iran and the Houthis is a campaign that comes from a specific channel, guess which one? It’s all from the press.”

On Sunday, NBC News had reported on apparent friction between Netanyahu and President Trump over disagreements concerning how to handle developments in Gaza and Iran.

Netanyahu also used the committee forum to outline his administration’s plans for integrating charedim into the Israel Defense Forces.

“We will bring the enlistment of 10,500 charedim in two years, and we will bring heavy personal and institutional sanctions in the law. Together with this, we will make sure that anyone who goes in charedi comes out charedi. The law that comes out of the committee will be the law that is passed,” he said.

Yesh Atid lawmaker Elazar Stern responded with a sharp critique, accusing the Prime Minister of stalling. “The sanctions are your responsibility, you can do it at any moment.” Netanyahu declined to respond.

Despite the pushback, Netanyahu expressed confidence that the plan would mark a turning point in addressing the issue. “They will take a more substantial part than all those before us, until now no one succeeded.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has agreed to a face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Turkey this Thursday, following direct encouragement from President Donald Trump to accept the proposal without hesitation.

Initially, Zelensky responded with caution to Putin’s televised late-night offer yesterday — timed to air during U.S. prime time — suggesting that both leaders meet for negotiations in Istanbul on May 15.

While Putin did not explicitly confirm that he would attend the meeting in person, Zelensky made his position clear in a public message. “I will be waiting for Putin in Turkey on Thursday. Personally. I hope that this time the Russians will not look for excuses,” Zelensky wrote on X.

Putin’s call for talks came shortly after European leaders, during a visit to Kyiv yesterday, demanded that Russia agree to a 30-day unconditional ceasefire or face severe new sanctions. Keith Kellogg, Trump’s envoy to Ukraine, voiced support for that stance the following day.

Zelensky had reiterated that Ukraine was open to negotiations, but only if Moscow first agreed to pause the fighting for a full month. However, Trump weighed in with a sharply different viewpoint.

“President Putin of Russia doesn’t want to have a Cease Fire Agreement with Ukraine, but rather wants to meet on Thursday, in Turkey, to negotiate a possible end to the BLOODBATH. Ukraine should agree to this, IMMEDIATELY,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“At least they will be able to determine whether or not a deal is possible, and if it is not, European leaders, and the U.S., will know where everything stands, and can proceed accordingly!”

The invasion that began in February 2022 has cost hundreds of thousands of lives and marked one of the most serious clashes between Russia and Western powers since the Cuban Missile Crisis. Despite the toll, Putin has shown little willingness to offer major compromises.

In his televised statement, Putin suggested engaging in “direct negotiations without any preconditions.”

Soon afterward, however, top Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov added a caveat, stating that any discussions must incorporate the terms of a now-defunct 2022 draft agreement and also reflect the realities on the ground. This essentially implies demands that Kyiv adopt a neutral stance and recognize Russian control over occupied Ukrainian territory.

Putin also pushed back against Western and Ukrainian calls for an immediate truce, rejecting what he characterized as “ultimatums.” Russia’s foreign ministry followed up by asserting that any talk of a ceasefire must be preceded by deeper discussions about the root causes of the war.

Trump, who has repeatedly pledged to end the conflict if given the opportunity and says he wants to be remembered for making peace, reacted to Putin’s statement by calling it “A potentially great day for Russia and Ukraine!”

{Matzav.com}